11 Pogba-approved exercises to lose weight and get fit like a FIFA player

Brace yourself for some intense sessions

As FIFA World Cup 2018 moves steadily toward the semi-finals, France’s key player Paul Pogba is all set to take on Belgium in tonight’s game. After Pogba’s prowess on the pitch resulted in France emerging victorious in their last match against Uruguay on July 6, Pogba’s performance is much anticipated in the semi-finals against Belgium. And while Pogba’s mid-field game is stronger than ever, what boosts the football player to keep raging forth is his fitness regime. Now, for those of you who weren’t aware, Paul Pogba performs a varied set of exercises that keep him extremely fit for FIFA 2018.

How to lose weight and get fit like Paul Pogba

There are a lot of ways to lose weight and get fit apart from following a healthy diet and working out at the gym. Mixing your workouts is essential to keep you going and eventually witness effective results. The process might be difficult as your workouts will tend to vary but remember that consistency is key while trying to get fit. And if you want to know how to get fit like Pogba, we’ve rounded up 11 techniques you could steal from his fitness routine that suit your preferences and are bound to help you in the long run. Check them out below:

Play football

First things first, play a sport that you’re really passionate about. What with FIFA 2018, a daily dose of football – which has you physically playing on the field and not just staring at a screen – could help you stay in shape. But if you think football isn’t really up your alley, you could always experiment with other sports you think you’d be good at and that could also aid in weight loss.

Or try your hand at basketball

Basketball is another fun yet functional sport when it comes to weight loss. You could engage in the sport for a mere half an hour and yet burn close to 400 calories. If you’re highly interested in sports, you could consider a mix of football and basketball and schedule them in your fitness routine every week to help you stay fit.

Table tennis could help increase stamina

Table tennis may not seem to be as vigorous as other sports like football and basketball with regard to physical activity but the movements it involves have tons of health benefits you may not be aware of. Some of these include developing mental acuity, improving reflexes, focusing your brain and increasing concentration etc.

Warm ups are equally important

Whatever sport you choose to play, performing some stretches and warm ups prior to the sport could help you gear up for the intense workout session. You could even do these basic warm up exercises after playing the sport to help recover your muscles.

Walk, sprint, run

Begin your daily exercise routine every morning with some outdoor cardio. The most basic exercise you could perform is walking. You could begin by walking to prepare your muscles for the exercise and then increase your pace slightly to get your heart beat racing and burn more calories. Eventually you could break into a run and continue in the same pace for a couple of rounds before halting to a stop. This way, you’ll ensure you’re not straining yourself and at the same time, getting a good workout session for burning fat.

Walking on sand helps too

If you think walking on regular ground makes you exhausted at the end of your workout, try walking on sand. It takes twice the amount of effort but also burns more fat in the process. According to scientists, it takes approximately 2.1-2.7 times more energy to walk or even run on sand than on hard surfaces. But the energy you spend to perform the task is used to strengthen the muscles between your feet, back, calves, quads and glutes. So, the next time you visit a beach, set aside some time for this workout.

Pogba swears by kick boxing

Kick boxing is one of the most energetic workouts that helps tone your muscles to get you looking ripped. Performing kick boxing helps tone your upper and lower body through all the punching and kicking the bag. Your strength tends to increase with every move. It is a full body workout that helps increase your flexibility, regulates blood circulation in your body and also relieves you of stress.

Never miss your cardio sesh

Whether it’s your treadmill workout at the gym or cycling on a stationary bike, your cardio sessions are extremely important to help you lose weight. When you’re performing your cardio routine, your body tends to burn more calories as it is releasing more energy. If you want to increase the amount of calories you’re burning, all you have to do is increase the intensity of your workout to get your heart beat racing and serve your purpose.

Indulge in some cross-fit training

If you weren’t already aware, cross-fit training is a form of strength and conditioning workout that utilizes your bodyweight to build resistance and in turn, power. If you want to know how to lose weight fast, incorporate some cross-fit workouts or high intensity interval training sessions in your daily gym routine and witness the results for yourself.

Lift some weights

While cardio helps burn calories and fat, weight training or strength training helps build muscle. With the increase in lean muscle, your body’s metabolism also increases at the same time. Weight training helps you gain strength without bulking up, reduces the risk of incurring injuries and even improves your posture.

Work on your balancing

In order to increase resistance and improve your posture, you need to master the act of balancing. Balancing strengthens your core and lower-body muscles which help keep you steady on your feet. Apart from helping you keep fit, balance training is key to all functional movement in your daily routine. It helps your muscular balance, joint dynamics, posture and stability. It is an essential part of all your workouts including walking, running, swimming etc.